Timer casing



` A. w. CAPs'.

- TIMER CASING.

APPLICATION .FILED IuNE I6, 1919.

Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

[N VEN TOR.

y* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR W. CAPS, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO THE PIERSEN MANUFAC-TUBING CO., OF 'JIOIEKAL- KANSAS, A CORPORATION KANSAS.

TIMER CASING. i i

To all whom t may concern: i

`Be it known that I, ARTHUR CAPs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas,v haveinvented certain newl and and useful Improvements in Timer Casings; andI do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled 1n the art tov whichis appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings,` and to the letters -and figures of referencemarked thereon,

which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to timers, and more particularly to a device ofthatcharacter for timing the ignition spark of `a multiple cylinderexplosion'engine. p l l One of `the objects of the invention 1s toconstruct the parts of the timer so that they may be assembled `byunskilled workmen and without the necessity for employing jig or otherespecially constructed assembling tools.v i l It is also theV purpose ofthis invention to provide a timer which may be readily disassembled forinspection or repairs and in such manner that worn-out parts may bereplaced without special skill. v

yThe invention also contemplates the provision of means whereby theparts sub jected to wear may be of standard construction andinterchangeable so that the number of parts which the dealer will haveto carry in stock will be reduced to a minimum. f

In the drawings,

Fig. I is a perspective viewfof a timer casing with' an insulated ringand contacts carried thereby, and-constructed in accordance with myinvention.

Fig.II is a sectional view on the line II-II of Fig. III, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. III is a sectionalv View onv the line III-III of Fig. II, lookingin they direc tionof the arrows. y

Fig; IV is a detail perspectiveview of one of the insulating blocksconstituting a` 4 specification bf Lettersratent. Patented Mar, 28,1922. Application filed June 16, 1919. serial No. 3043403.

1 designates a lshell or housing preferably of sheet metal which mayconsist of a spinyning and which is here shown as substantially intheform of a truncated cone, the

annular flange 2, of which is provided with a plurality of equi-distantholes or openings 8. The openings are here showny as 90 apart to receivethe contact fastening devices as the device is adapted for a fourcylinder engine. The insulating ring is shown as consisting of aplurality of segmental blocks, 4 preferably molded into form andprovidedterminally ywith offsets or shoulders 5 and `6 to receive the contactswhich also serve as clamping devices for the segments. The outer face ofeach segment is recessed at 1 to provide feet 5 and 6 opposite theoffsets for the purpose presently described.

By reference to Fig. II itwillbe observed that the segmental blocks 4are spaced apartand arey bridged `by channel contacts 7 the ends 8 and9- ofwhich overlap and engage the offset portions 5 and 6, and thattheparallel sides 10 and 11 of the channels overlap the sides of the`blocks 4 so that the blocks will be clampedin place .when tension isapplied to the'eye bolts 12 which serve to hold the contacts in placeand may constitute binding posts. The heads 12 of the eye boltspractically Vfill the space between'the anges 10 and 11 of contactsv 7so that the segments and con tacts are held in perfect alignment by thebolts.

By reference to Fig. V it will be observed that the eyel bolts 12 arefastened to the `parallel sides 10 and 11 by pins 13,

thereby permitting the eyeV bolts to have a swivel motion with respectto the contacts so as-to insurev proper setting of the contacts 7 uponthe segments f1, even though `the openings are not spaced to very closei' ,limits of accuracy. The eye bolts 12 proect through-the openings 3and are adapted to receive insulatingffiller washers 14 which preferablyare of the saine diameter as and seat within the openings 3 whereby saidfiller washers mayrest upon the outer edges of the segments which are ofsuilicient length to project slightly beyond the openings 3, and therebypresent shoulders upon Which the Washers may seat.

1n the present embodiment ot my invention 1 also contemplate applyingbearing Washers 15 and nuts 16 to the bolts 12 so that when the nuts aretightened they torce the Washers against the outer face ot the casing'flange and draw the contact menibers 7 against the segment blocks 1,thereby drawing the blocks against the inner tace of the Yflange toclamp the blocks to the tlange and form a irm ring of alternateconductive and nonconductive sections. The filler Washers 14 are thinnerthan the flange 2 ot the casing, so that when the parts are in theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 11, they rest Within the holes or openings3 and the bearing Washers 15 contact With the outer surface ot flange 2.Consequently, the parts are held rigid and there is no radial play otthe contacts as might occur ii the bearing Washers 15 were held againstthe liller Washers 14.

The movable contact is carried by a shaitt 1S, geared to the main engineshaft (not shown), and may be of any preferred construction, but is hereshown to consist ol. a lever 17 pivoted on a pin 19, in a yoke 2O on acollar 20 that is fixed on said shaitt. The lever 17 carries a roller 21at one end which is moved to contact with the ring lr-7 by a spring 22that is connected with the inner end of the lever and With an arm 23,also projecting from said collar. N ith this arrangement, when the shaftrevolves Within the stationary housing, the roller 21 Will contactalternately with the nonconductive segment blocks 4 and with theconductive contact members 7.

1t will be apparent that all of the contact members 7 and theirfastening devices may be of like construction as may also the segmentblocks 4c, so that they are interchangeable and may be quickly assembledWithout specific arrangement in the casing. Since the segment blocks 4may be molded, liability ot their absorbing moisture and thereby warpingout of shape Will be niaterially reduced. Some molded insulationproducts are somewhat brittle and as there may be slight variations inthe casings, 1 lieve provided the segments el with the outer recesses 4fso that the contacts 7 can be drawn down tightly onto the segmentsI andpress the feet 5 and G against the iiange 2 Without danger ot' breakingthe segments.

A. ring may thus be formed, having a substantially true bearing circleirrespective ot possible irregularities in the housing Vtrame, therebyobviating the necessity for strict accuracy in the construction ot thehousing, with the resultant saving in manufacturing and inspection.

Since it is contemplated to mold the segments 4t, the product will beuniform, re-

quiring little inspection and low tool up keep expense after the dieswhich term them are made.

prefer to utilize the washers 1st and 15 as separate vflat Washersrather than mold them integral because these washers are ot standardsize and can be purchased upon the open market, the advantage ot thisbeing apparent it reduces the number et special partsivhich the dealerwould have to carry for repairs, as Well as the reduction ot the initialcost since no special machine Would have to be uses in theirmanutacture.

1t will be apparent from the foregoing that the device can be cheaplyconstructed and that it may be easily assembled and taken apart byunskilled labor tor inspection or repairs.

Assuming the device to be constructed as described and assembled in theignition system of an engine, when the engine is in operation, the shaft18 is revolved and carries the contact roller around with it. The casingor housing being stationary and the lever 17 urged to retain the roller21 in contact with the ring, said roller moves over the surface ot' thering and intermittently engages the Contact members 7. The contactmembers 7 forming one terminal ot the circuit and the ground the otherterminal, a circuit is closed Whenever the roller engages one ot thecontact members 7 and the desired ignition occurs.

lVhile the present construction a-lords slight opportunity tor unevenWear ot the contacts or segment blocks, should it be necessary toreplace one ot the contacts or blocks, the replacement may be effectedWithout disturbing the entire timer and Without the loss incident toreplacement ot an entire ring.

1t is also apparent that the tension ot the movable contact members isuniform throughout the ringand that the continuous smooth surface avoidshammering and uneven Wear.

Vilhat 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. A timer comprising a casing, an insulating ring Within the casingconsisting ot a plurality of spaced segments, contacts of channelY.torni Within which the ends oiz the segments are received, and meansttor securing the contacts to the casing. y

2. A timer comprising a casing, an insulating ring Within the casingconsisting ot a plurality ot aligning segments, each ot Which isprovided with a terminal offset portion,channel-shaped Contact membersengaging the offset portions oit adjacent segments, bolts pivoted to thechannel members and projecting through openings in the casing, andclamping nuts tor engagement With the bolts.

3. A timer comprising a casing having openings about the peripherythereof, an insulating ring consisting of a plurality of segments, theends of which `are spaced apart but overlap the edges of the openings,channel contact members Within which the ends of the segments arereceived Where-k by the contact members serve as clamps to exertpressure against the segments in an outward direction, complementaryclamping members extending Within the openings in the casing andengaging the outer face of the casing, and means for connecting thecontacts and complementary clamping members together.

4;. A timer comprising a casing,'an insulating ring Within the casingconsisting of spaced, segmental, interchangeable members,

contact members vfor clamping the segments to the casing, said Contactmembers Ibeing clamping nuts for the eye bolts.

5. A timer comprising a casing, a plurality of aligning segments, each aduplicate of another and provided With terminal offset portions, aplurality of segmentclamping contacts, each contact being a du plicateof the other and consisting of a channel member having a threaded boltswingingly connected thereto, and a nut for engaging the threadedportion of the bolt.

In testimony whereof I atx my signa ture.

' ARTHUR W. CAPS.

